WhatsApp Arrives on Apple Watch, Calls to Follow Later

WhatsApp users can now receive call notifications, read messages, and send voice messages directly from their Apple Watch, making the device a more interactive communication tool.

“This new experience will help you stay on top of your chats without needing to pull out your iPhone,” WhatsApp wrote in a blog post. “In addition to reading and responding to messages, for the first time, WhatsApp on Apple Watch will now support many requested features.”

Expanding Functionality, Upholding Security

The expanded feature set extends well beyond simple message viewing. Users can now react to messages and access more of their chat history on-screen for greater context. Visuals, including images and stickers, also display with clearer resolution.

This shift toward greater functionality occurs without compromising user security. The Meta-owned platform is quick to assure users: as always, personal messages and calls remain protected with end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp also signalled its commitment to future development, stating it plans to deliver even more functionality to Apple Watches in the future.

What does this mean for the future of on-the-go communication? Does this level of convenience ultimately make users more reliant on notifications or genuinely more present by minimising phone distraction?

A Pattern of Platform Expansion

The introduction of the Apple Watch app reflects WhatsApp’s broader strategy to expand service accessibility beyond traditional mobile and desktop interfaces. This focus on platform parity became clear in May when WhatsApp debuted its long-awaited iPad app. That release empowered iPad users with video and audio calls for up to 32 people, screen sharing, and access to both front and rear cameras, a stark contrast to the prior limitation of browser-only web access.

The arrival of the WhatsApp app follows a similar push by a key competitor. A few months ago, Snapchat rolled out its own Apple Watch application. However, the two apps offer distinct experiences. Snapchat's version allows users to preview incoming messages and reply using the keyboard, Scribble, Dictation, or an emoji. Critically, Snapchat’s focus remains on quickly responding to messages, explicitly avoiding the display of images or videos on the watch. WhatsApp's richer media support and chat history access position it for a more comprehensive wrist-based messaging experience.

To take advantage of the new app, users need an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running watchOS 10 or later.